General News

Taryn Manning Reaches Out To Alleged Stalker

Orange Is The New Black star Taryn Manning has reached out to a former friend who is accused of stalking the actress, insisting she hopes the defendant "gets the help she needs".

Jeanine Heller, 32, is facing charges of stalking and harassment over allegations she bombarded Manning with hundreds of online messages between April and July (14). The case went back to court in New York City on Wednesday (06Aug14), and it was adjourned until 6 October (14) after the judge at Manhattan Criminal Court ruled no evidence had been produced to show Heller had broken the terms of a restraining order which prevents her from contacting Manning.

After the hearing, Heller's lawyer Jeremy Saland claimed his client had previously received a number of explicit messages from Manning and had filed her own police complaint, telling reporters, "Ms. Manning will answer as to why she's sending these explicit (messages)... My client filed a complaint and that sort of fell on deaf ears. The complainant was harassing my client."

Manning has now released a statement reaching out to the former pal, saying, "My heart goes out to anyone who has endured being stalked and cyber-bullied. I wish Jeanine nothing but the best and that she gets the help she needs."